G.—9

2

Other Matters. According to figures given in previous returns, the area now remaining in the hands of the Maoris of the; North Island is as follows :— Acres. Acres. Estimated area at 31st March, 1922 .. .. .. .. 4,472,349 Sold to Crown .. .. .. .. .. .. 51,523 Sold to individuals .. ~ .. .. ..39,910 91,433 Leaving a balance estimated at .. .. .. 4,380,916 The Urewera and other consolidation matters are progressing steadily. Some portions of the schemes have been completeel and only await final orders. The Urewera Commissioners report they have; progressed as far as the position of the surveys will permit. Two Natives were declared by the Governor-General in Council to be Europeans under the law for that purpose, making a total of fifty-six since the Act was passed in .1912. Four Native Interpreters have been licensed during the year, all of whom were Maoris. R. N. Jones, Under-Secretary. > t TABLE A—NATIVE LAND COURTS. Return op Business and Fees for the Year ended 31st March, 1923. Native Land Court. Number of sittings .. .. .. .. .. .. 112 Number of cases notified .. .. .. .. .. 21,768 Number of cases for which orelers were made .. .. .. 7,549 Number of cases dismissed .. .. .. .. .. 2,824 Number of cases adjourned sine die .. .. .. .. f f ,665 Number of partitions made .. .. .. .. .. 911 Area affected (acres) .. .. .. .. .. 180,456 Number of investigations of title .. .. .. .. 12 Area affected (acres) .. .. .. .. .. 2,028 Number of succession orders made .. .. .. .. 7,871 Number of other orders made .. .. .. .. .. 2,638 Court Fees. £ s. d. Fees received.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,380 13 10 Fees outstanding for period .. .. .. .. .. 389 10 0 Native Appellate Court. Number of sittings .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 Number of cases notified .. .. .. .. .. 87 Native Land Court decisions varied .. .. .. .. 7 Native Land Court decisions affirmed .. .. .. .. 10 Native Land Court decisions referred back to Native Land Court .. 7 Native Land Court decisions annulled .. .. .. .. 6 Appeals dismissed or withdrawn .. .. .. .. 37 Appeals adjourned sine die .. .. .. .. .. 11 Applications under section 208 ordered .. .. .. .. 2 Application under section 208 dismissed .. .. .. .. 1 Applications under section 208 adjourned sine die .. ... .. 2 Court Fees. £ s. d. Fees received.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 124 19 0 Fees outstanding for period .. .. .. ".. .. 10 0

TABLE B.—MAORI LAND BOARDS. Areas of Native Land vested in and administered by Maori Land Boards.

Board. As at 31st March, 1922. Vested during Year. As at Lands subject to Pi art XIV of the Natv>:e Land Act, 1909. Ikaroa Aotea Tairawhiti Waiariki Waikato-Maniapoto Tokerau A. 11. P. 16,301 2 36 14,345 0 2cS 2,824 3 36 18,710 1 4 197,637 3 3 50,892 3 24 A. E. P. 16,301 2 36 14,345 0 28 2,824 3 36 18,710 1 4 197,637 3 3 50,892 3 24 300,712 3 11 300,712 3 11